Aggro

Aggro is a term used in video games to describe the focus of an enemy’s aggression or attention on a particular player. It reflects the game’s threat or enmity system, where enemies decide which player to attack based on who poses the greatest danger or draws the most attention. The word is short for aggression and is commonly used in role-playing games, massively multiplayer online games, and other strategic genres.

In many MMORPGs and RPGs, enemies maintain a threat or aggro list. Threat is influenced by actions such as dealing damage, healing allies, applying powerful or disruptive abilities, taunts, and even proximity to the enemy. The player with the highest threat becomes the primary target, and enemies may switch targets if another player’s threat rises. Some games display a visible threat meter or aggro indicator to help players understand who is being attacked. Tanks are designed to maximize their threat to keep enemies focused on them, while other players work to manage or reduce their own threat to avoid pulling aggro.

Aggro also appears outside traditional RPGs. In collectible card games and strategy titles, an “aggro” deck or strategy aims to deal damage quickly and end the game early, prioritizing fast aggression over long-term planning. In team-based games, terms like “de-aggro” or threat reduction describe actions intended to lower an enemy’s focus on a player or to reposition attention to another target.

Origins of the term are uncertain, but aggro gained widespread use in late 1990s MMORPGs and has since become a common shorthand for enemy focus and threat management in gaming.